Our July 4th / Birthday Trip

[SeaJAlbin28]

We are just back from a 9-day trip aboard SeaJ, our Albin 28TE. We left Oriental, NC (on the Neuse River) bound for Ocracoke Island and village on Sunday, June 27. Headed down the Neuse at around 14 knots, hit the NR Junction with the Pamlico Sound, and then made for the Brandt Island Shoal tower at around 10 knots. Wind was out of the south west at 10-15, with 1-2 foot waves. From BI we made for Royal Shoals tower, and then to the Nine-Foot Shoals channel where we slowly picked our way along into Ocracoke. Total one-way trip was just shy of 40 miles, in exactly 4 hours.

We stayed at Ocracoke for 5 days, at the Anchorage Marina. It was blistering hot the first 2 days (we made heavy use of the swimming pool), and then it cooled off to a very pleasant 80 to 85 degrees for the next several days. Did some sight-seeing, shopping, and a whole lot of relaxing. Did have an amusing experience with a 58 foot Kady-Krogen docked right next to us, and then a 65 foot Hatteras. We are very proud of the SeaJ, but next to those 3-story vessels we sort of looked like their dinghies. Bought some fresh caught cobia steaks one night and grilled aboard (best fish I have ever eaten!), and flounder and fresh scallops another night---the other evenings we ate dinner at the Jolly Roger.

Ocracoke had a tragic accident last July 4th, where the entire fireworks crew (4 men) were killed when their truck blew up....consequently, they had a memorial service this year instead of a fireworks display. We left to return to Oriental on Thursday, June 29 so that we could enjoy the 30th annual Croakerfest activities and see the fireworks display there. Winds had shifted around to the north east at 15 to 20...we went back to Oriental backtracking our original route, with 3 to 4 foot waves. By the time we got the boat cleaned up, it was time to head over to M & M's for beers and burgers, then a shower and a good night's sleep.

We stayed in Oriental through the 5th of July, enjoyed all the Croakerfest activities and fireworks displays, ate waaay too much excellent food, and capped the trip off with a day trip to the Morehead City--Atlantic Beach area on the 4th which is, by the way, Judy's birthday (she has always believed the fireworks displays were in her honor). Our son and one of his friends joined us for that---we must have seen 40 or more dolphins in the ICW that day. All in all, we had a great trip.....once we got past the first couple of days things cooled down nicely. Night time temps down in the low to mid 60's, so we were able to open up at night and enjoy the wonderful breezes. Only rained once on us, and that was at night.

We used about 90 gallons of fuel total, at speeds that ranged from 8 knots to 18 knots (for the short runs up and down and across the Neuse, which we have seen a thousand times) with 13 hours of operating time---so we averaged just under 7 gallons an hour over all our travels, which covered 124 total miles. (That is actually high fuel use for us, because we are reformed sailors and are usually quite happy at 8 to 10 knots, where we average more like 3 gallons an hour.) Sea J did exactly what she was supposed to do, and we cleaned her up nice at every leg of the trip. This was our longest trip so far (9 days aboard a 28 foot boat) and we did just fine, too! What a great way to relax!!

[kathylsails]

Glad to hear you had such a great trip! We'll be heading there from Oriental in September. It will be the first trip there in our new (to us) Albin, so it was great to hear how quickly you got there. Our previous boat trips there were in a sailboat, so it was always an overnight trip!

[SeaJAlbin28]

where do you keep your boat----there seem to be several Albins in the many creeks and marinas around Oriental, and up the ditch near the Seagate Marina----but we rarely see them on the water! We are at Clancy's, which is under the bridge and just up Camp Creek on Midyette. Maybe we'll see you at M & M's!

[kathylsails]

We're across from Oriental on Clubfoot Creek. It would be fun to see you at M&Ms! We PM'd you a while ago but don't think you ever got the message. I posted a different message on Everything Albin today about possibly having a Rendezvous in the Carolinas. Do you think the folks around here would be interested?